BMW M3 30 Jahre revealed

BMW M3 30 Jahre revealed

BMW will produce a 500-unit M3 30 Jahre anniversary special and Australia has its hand up for a slice of the cake.

German for ‘30 years’, the 30 Jahre celebrates three decades since the compact M-car range started with the 1986 E30 generation, followed by the 1992 E36, 2000 E46, 2007 E92 and the current 2014 F80.

As with the M3 Competition Pack arriving soon, it gets more power than the standard M-car, with the 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder’s 331kW output up 14kW (although 550Nm is unchanged) and the 0-100km/h claim falling by a tenth to 4.0 seconds flat.

Both six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic are available.

The new springs and dampers and ESC tune of the M3 Competition Pack also carry over, as do the multi-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels with 265mmm front/285mm rear rubber.

All units will be produced in either the E30 colour Macao Blue or Frozen Silver metallics. Each scores BMW Individual Show Line gloss black accents on the grille and exhaust, and a carbonfibre front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler, with M stripes adorning the carbonfibre roof.

Of course a ‘30 Years M3’ badge features on the exterior side flanks, front door strip and headrests, while the dashboard applique also gets a production number from one to 500.

Rounding out the interior changes are “skeletal” sports buckets from the Competition Pack but exclusively cloaked in Merino leather in black/blue or black/Silverstone with colour-matching contrast seams.

Although the M3 Competition Pack will soon arrive in Australia priced from $144,900 plus on-road costs – $10K more than the standard car – there’s no word yet on the premium for the M3 30 Jahre.

In Germany the M3 30 Jahre costs a hefty €10K more than the M3 Competition Pack. The UK has secured 30 units and MOTOR understands BMW Australia is keen to go toe-to-toe with that primary right-hand drive market and match that allocation.